Adjustable headrest for invalids



V. H. FAIRLESS. ADJUSTABLE HEADREST EUR INVALIDS.

APPLICATloN FILED AUG.27. 1920.

Patented Jam.y 25, 1921.

'VCTOR HALE FAIBLESS, 0F TRENTON, T'KEITNESSEE.

ADJUSTABLE HEDREST FGF., INVALIDS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J an. 25, 1921.

Application filed August 2'?, 1920. Serial No. 406,333.

To all whom it may concer/n.'

Be it known that I, Vieron HALE linnn Lnss, a citizen of the United lStates, residing at Trenton, in the county ot Gibson vand State of |Tennessee, have ,invented certain new and useful Improvements in Adjustable Headrests for Invalids; and l do hereby declare the following to be a Aiiull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to malte and use the same.

My invention relates to an improved head and body7 rest for use in connection with a bed for the comfort and convenience of invalide, students, or others who by necessity or choice spend a material portion of time in the reclining position.

It is customary generally to prop up the patients or students head or shoulders or both with pillows, or sometimes the back of a chair, but such arrangements prove unsatisfactory in use.

My invention relates to an improved adjustable device adapted to support the head and upper portion of the human body, which device may be conveniently attached to or removed from a bed by a single operation, and which may be used either alone or with pillows as may be preferred, and in which the angle of the device may be quickly and conveniently varied when desired, so as to change the angle of tilt of the user.

My invention is intended to provide a light, inexpensive, and eiiicient device, which holds lirmly in place when in use, but which may be conveniently attached to the bed or removed when desired.

My invention will be more fully understood after reference to the accompanying drawing which shows the frame of the head rest in full lines, and the bed in dotted lines.

A represents the main 'frame which is adapted to be attached to the bed and con.

sists of a substantially U-shaped bar having the legs A flattened out and notched as at a, and the head of the frame is provided with two hook-shaped portions a2 which are connected together by the cross bar A2, the whole being formed of a single piece. All the parts of the main frame are preferably rounded, as shown, including also the ends of the legs A.

In order to protect the head boards of wooden beds from scarring, and to prevent the head frames of metal beds from rattling, l provide sott cushioning means of any suit-J able 'orm, such, for instance, as the rubber tubes B and B2 which may be slipped over the lower ends of the legs of the frame and moved to the desired place, being'lield in position by the elasticity of the rubber. i

ln combination with the main trame just described I use an adjustable supporting member comprising the rectangular metal frame D, preferably made of a solid rod, or it desired a light tube may be used, the ends o f which are welded together to forni a con* tinuous trame. The upper corners of this frame are bent to forni U-shaped loops CZ to engage in the notches c of the legs The frame D is covered with any suitable flexible material, such as canvas, leather, or the like, but preferably canvas since this can be more conveniently washed when required.

In order to provide for the convenient removal of the textile material l shape it in the form of a rectangular center E with 'iiour tapered tabs E', each tab being provided with eyelets e, the opposite tabs being connected together by lacings F and F', which lacings should preferably be on the lower side of the frame D. By having two separate lacings the opposite tabs may be more conveniently secured together, but a single lacing may be used if desired.

The frame D may be made rectangular if desired, but I preferably have the sides bulging outslightly so that they will tend to prevent the sagging of the textile fabric when weight is applied-thereto.

ln operation, the hooks a2 rest over the top 0l the head board or rail and the lower ends a of the legs drop down behind head of mattress. The eyes Z of the frame D are' engaged in the corresponding notches so as to give the proper tilt to the frame D and the parts when in use are in the position shown in the drawing. The head rest may be used without pillows, or with one or more pillows as desired.

Whenever the canvas covering becomes soiled, or it is desired to change the same for any purpose, the lacing may be unrove and the canvas removed and another supplied, or the same canvas maybe cleaned and sterilized and returned to the initial position.

The two frames may also be conveniently sterilized when desired, and to facilitate this they are preferably galvanized or nickelplated, or the parts of the same not subject to wear may be covered with porcelain.

In order to prevent lodgment of germs or dirt, and prevent injury to the bed clothes or the clothing of the wearer, all the parts should be rounded, includingrthe edges of the main frame, also the notches formed in the main iframe, as in devices of this kind it is especially desirable to prevent the accumulation oi' dirt in cracks or crevices.

lt will be seen that the head rest may be suppliedV to or removed from the bed at a single operation, may be raised or lowered as desirech and that the cover E may be quickly removed and returned to the initial position when desired.

ln order to tit bedsteads havin@- backs oi varying heights, l may provide main frames with legs of different lengths, probably main frames of two lengths would cover all normal conditions of the trade.

The invention is especially intended to provide a cheap and efficient implement which can be supplied in individual homes and used for the comfort and convenience of the occupants thereof.

It will be obvious that various changes might be made in the herein described construction, and in the combination and arrangements of parts which could be used without departing from the spirit of my invention; and I do not mean to limit the invention to such details except as particularly pointedout in the claim.

Having thus described my invention what claim and desire to secure by Letters Pat- Vent of the United States is A head rest of the character described, comprising a main frame made of a single bar substantially in the form of an inverted single rod having upwardly projecting loopsV formed therein at its upper corners, said loops being adapted vto engage opposite notches in the main frame, and a cover made of flexible material detachably connected to said second frame, substantially as described.

VICTOR HALE FAIRLESS. 

